About Us

RISE Paediatric Occupational Therapy is a mobile service that is dedicated to supporting children aged 2 to 16 in achieving their goals. Based in Nelson Bay, RISE provides occupational therapy assessment and intervention to children within home, school and community environments.

At RISE Paediatric OT, our mission is to help children thrive by embracing their strengths and supporting their journey to success. Through our RISE approach, we:

Reach goals and milestones, ensuring every child progresses at their own pace.
Inspire growth and independence, building confidence and self-esteem.
Support skill development, enabling children to tackle daily challenges.
Empower children and families, providing tools and strategies for lasting progress.

Our Values

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Family-Centred Care

We believe that families are the heart of every child’s development and work collaboratively to create personalized therapy plans that align with your family’s unique needs and goals.

Play-Based Therapy

We use play as a powerful tool for learning, recognizing that it’s through fun, engaging activities that children build skills, confidence, and independence.

Inclusivity

We are committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where every child and family feels valued, respected, and empowered.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Fine Motor Skills

OT's help children develop fine motor skills by working on activities that improve hand strength, dexterity, and coordination. Through tasks like drawing, cutting, or using small objects, children build the precision needed for daily tasks such as writing, buttoning clothes, and feeding themselves.

Gross Motor Skills

OT's support the development of gross motor skills through activities that focus on balance, coordination, core strength and body awareness. Activities such as jumping, climbing, and catching a ball help children gain strength and coordination, which are essential for physical play, sports, and overall mobility.

Visual Perceptual Skills

Visual perceptual skills help children interpret and make sense of what they see. This includes improving the ability to recognise shapes, patterns, and letters, which are essentials for reading, writing, completing puzzles and copying from a board.

Self-Care Skills

OT's can support the development of self-care skills, helping children gain independence in daily tasks like dressing, grooming, toileting, and feeding. By breaking tasks down into manageable steps and using adaptive techniques, children learn how to take care of themselves with confidence and ease.

Play Skills

Play is a child's main occupation. Through play skills development, occupational therapists use play as a tool to improve communication, problem-solving, and social interactions. Engaging in structured and unstructured play helps children develop creativity, cooperation, and emotional resilience, all while having fun.

Executive Functioning Skills

Occupational therapists support the development of executive functioning skills, such as planning, organizing, and self-regulation. Through activities that involve goal-setting, time management, and memory exercises, children learn how to manage tasks and make decisions, boosting their ability to succeed both at school and in everyday life.

Sensory Processing

Occupational therapists assist children in developing sensory processing skills by helping them regulate and respond appropriately to sensory input like touch, sound, and movement. Tailored sensory activities help children become more comfortable with everyday sensory experiences, improving focus, behavior, and emotional regulation.

Social and Emotional Development

Therapists foster social and emotional development by helping children navigate social interactions, manage emotions, and build empathy. Through structured play and guided activities, children learn essential skills like taking turns, making eye contact, and coping with frustration or anxiety.

Paediatric occupational therapists (OT's) focus on helping children develop the skills they need to engage in everyday activities. OT's work with children who may have physical, developmental, sensory, or cognitive challenges that affect their ability to perform these tasks. Through fun, engaging, and individualised sessions, we support children to build confidence, independence, and the skills they need to succeed at home, school, and in their community.